Patricia Ann McCormick

McCormick, Patricia A. (Pat) MADISON-Patricia A. (Pat) McCormick, age 74, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, April 26, 2014, after a more than eight year battle with Alzheimer’s/dementia. Born on Jan. 9, 1940, in Madison, the youngest of Robert and Lucille (Godden) Gerry’s six children, Pat spent her childhood in a warm and loving home on the eastside of Madison where she grew to love music, cooking and athletics. Pat attended Emerson Elementary School; it was at Wirth Court Playground in 1953 where she met Michael McCormick, the love of her life. Pat would often recall how the fact that she could hit the softball further than most of the boys was the reason she got his attention. Pat and Mike graduated together with the East High School class of 1958 and were married at St. Bernard’s Church on April 22, 1961. Pat worked for USAFI, Glidden Paints and Durkee Foods as a bookkeeper before she began the one career that she cherished more than any other; being a mom. As a homemaker, her house was open to all and her spirit of generosity and compassion welcomed her children’s friends from childhood to adulthood as if they were her own. There was always plenty of food on the table and Pat loved to gather people in conversation and celebration, she could always find a reason to make the simplest event into a celebration. After her children were of school age, Pat continued her career at Madison Coin Machine Company and retired from American Family Insurance in 2005. There was never a moment of work however that took precedence over her family; every ball game, every concert, every Scout meeting or church event that her children participated in, Pat was there. When she was a child Pat’s parents bought a small cottage on Lake Wisconsin where she spent her weekends growing up. Pat wanted to make her parent’s cottage the legacy of family that she passed on to her own children and grandchildren for it was there, on the patio or at the long picnic table on the porch that she felt most at home entertaining others. The friends and neighbors near her cottage formed a family for Pat that she relied upon as she aged. During her retirement Pat spent hours tending to her beautiful flowers in the yard, taking leisurely pontoon rides on the boat her son lovingly named for her mom, “Lucille”, enjoying evening sunsets over the lake and making “Pat’s Chicken” on the grill; another simple reason to gather her family together to celebrate Sundays. Prior to her illness Pat was a member of St. Dennis Catholic Church, enjoyed going out to eat with her special friends as well as the monthly dinners with her high school classmates. Any reason to get together to talk and laugh was reason enough for Pat to make time in her schedule for others. Pat is survived by her loving children whose hearts are broken at her passing but who are rejoicing in the fact that this horrible disease couldn’t beat her faith or theirs, Kerri (Eric) Jimieson of Madison, Chad (Trista) McCormick of Plymouth, Minn. and Jim of Oconomowoc, Wis; the grandchildren she waited so patiently for God to bless her with, Teagan, Bridget and Connor; her sister, whom she loved so dearly, Etta (Roy) Graham of Naples, Fla.; a cherished sister-in-law, Evelyn Gerry of Madison; her “second” family, Mike’s sisters and sisters-in-law, Anne (Michael) Endres of Sun Prairie, Mary (George) Pliszka of Georgetown, Texas, Lorraine and Mary McCormick of Madison and Nyla McCormick of Stoughton; her brothers-in-law, Richard (Janice) McCormick of Madison, Patrick (Patricia) McCormick of Janesville and George (Lorraine) McCormick of Lawrenceville, N.J.; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and countless friends. On Saturday morning as we held our mom’s hand and talked softly to her we were able to walk her home to her Lord and Savior. We rejoice in knowing that she is once again with our Dad, Michael, who preceded her in death; as well as her parents; siblings, Lucille (Richard) Kingston, Harold (Dolores) Gerry, Theodore (Donna) Gerry, and Thomas Gerry; and her brothers-in-law, Robert, William and Thomas McCormick. Funeral Services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2014, with Pastor Cal Steiner of Door Creek Church officiating. In addition, Pat’s family invites you to gather to celebrate her beautiful life at the funeral home on Friday evening, May 2, 2014, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agrace HospiceCare in Pat’s name. During the last three years Pat was cared for by the staff of The Highland’s House in Sun Prairie. The love and compassion of the operator of that facility, Kristin Bridgman, gave Pat’s children confidence that their mother was being cared for as they had cared for her themselves. Our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of both The Highland’s House and The Pine View House for your loving care and devotion to our mom and for making us part of your families. We will forever cherish you. “I will be here, when you come Home.” Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420